Jay Rifenbary's Blog

With the avalanche of information and
technological change, an understanding of what creates effective leadership is
continually being challenged. How does one lead in the threshold of social
media, an ever expansive cyber world, and abundant moral relativity? What
principles of leadership can a leader utilize to unite their followers, create
an organizational culture where people believe they are coming to work for
something greater than themselves, and where in their work and family
environment they feel valued?

Vulnerability, Humility and Transparency
are three principles that not only bring back humanness into the work
environment, but create a more impactful level of authentic leadership. This
trio of principles inspires people to feel included and valued in the
operational process. They enhance professional and personal relationships, and
open greater avenues to more effective communication, in turn trust, and organizational health.

To display a level of vulnerability is
not an excuse for a weakness, but rather an opportunity to lower your emotional
walls and inspire others to lower theirs. When you open your heart and display
a level of vulnerability it enhances communication. You are more human,
relatable and authentic, resulting in a greater willingness and comfort among
those you lead to communicate with you. You create a safer leadership
environment resulting in a higher level of trust.

To be humble is to think more of others
than yourself. To realize that all the answers to all the issues do not only
exist with you, but can be found in the collective strengths and talents of
those you lead. Humility does not excuse a leader from having to be accountable
for their team’s results, but it does create a team that collectively wants to
participate in the process. With that greater sense of ownership for their role
in the outcome, the more cooperative, collaborative and inspired the team will
be to succeed.

Transparency is an indication of honesty
and conveys a leader’s willingness to be truthful. Certainly a breath of fresh
air is experienced when transparency is real, and in turn will be reciprocated
by those led. When a leader is transparent there is nothing to hide, so nothing
to fear. So simple, but so internally destructive for those who deceive.
Transparency by a leader conveys trust in your team, and trust in the process.
It provides the ability for greater accountability on all levels of leadership,
because there is honest clarity in the operational process.

The beauty of this trio of leadership
principles is that all three are interdependent of one another. When a leader
is vulnerable they are more likely to display a level of humility. When a
leader is humble they are more likely to be transparent. In any order, this
powerhouse of leadership qualities can propel a leader and their team to
greater levels of achievement, mutual respect, accountability, cooperation and
loyalty to one another. It creates an environment that does not neglect the
importance, originality and value of being a human being.